#TheList: The Best Vacations In The World–According to the Experts

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When the whole curious, beautiful world seems to loom expectant with possibility, we asked 23 travel experts: "Where's the best place you've ever been?"

Those we spoke to — among them the founder of Tiny Atlas Quarterly magazine, the director of the world's largest adventure travel company, BAZAAR.com's travel editor and an affordable-travel pro—travel constantly and, like all frequent nomads, struggle with this deceptively simple question. How to choose just one? But after a little hedging and some flip-flopping, they each landed on the one place most etched in their brains—destinations (and experiences) that range from visually astounding to physically challenging to, in some instances, utterly life-changing.

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1Brazil

"Trancoso, Brazil is the perfect combination of wild and untouched nature, very warm people, and chic accommodations and restaurants. Brazilians do it better!" —Zoie Kingsbery Coe, founder of family travel firm Kid & Coe

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2Amsterdam

"I absolutely adore Amsterdam and here's why: It's a beautiful bite-size European city, so it is a wonderful introduction to the continent for first-timers to Europe. Filled with art, canals, cobblestones, and flowers, it has all the history of Paris and Rome, but it's not overwhelming and is very easily walkable (or bikeable). Everyone is friendly and helpful, and most people speak English, so it's easy to ask for directions or recommendations. Trains and buses are very accessible which make day trips to smaller towns convenient and fun. I once spent an afternoon at a cheese market in the town of Gouda, which was a blast." —Juliana Dever of Clever Dever Wherever

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3Indonesia

"Raja Ampat is a series of islands in the remote western region of Indonesia. They require a bit of work to get to — a couple buses, two flights, and two boat rides — but they're well worth the long journey! The diving is amazing—Raja Ampat has the most pristine underwater marine life I've ever seen. But even if you don't dive, all the island piers have the most stunning coral reefs right under the dock! Visit Arborek village for top-notch snorkeling, Sawinggrai village to feed the fish, or hike Pianemo for a view out over islands that create the shape of a star." —Sher, photographer and editor behind Sher She Goes

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4Florence

"Italy is a journey to the crossroads where culture, cuisine, and community come together. Some have called it La Dolce Vita, but after traveling to Tuscany, Sicily, Sardinia, Venice, Rome, Florence, and Trento, I've realized that it's more than a simple motto. It's finding meaning in the mundane, it's elevating the everyday, it's having harmony and happiness without needing a reason. It only takes one day of soaking up Italy's sun-kissed scenery to discover that La Dolce Vita is more than a Fellini film. In Italy the sweet life is the way of life." — Monique Soltani, journalist and travel-show host

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5Slovenia

"Slovenia is absolutely stunning—the culmination of Germanic and Austrian cultures making way to a Venetian-style coastline. It's rustic, charming, sophisticated, and, at the same time, alternative: Hip, artsy coffee shops shoulder up to bavarian sausage stands across the cobblestones from old-world cathedrals. Ljubljana, the capital, is pedestrian friendly and a foodie haven. It's affordable, the public transportation is second-to-none, and it's safe. Even serial travelers will stop in awe of this country's beauty!" — Megan Lee, director of meaningful-travel site GoAbroad

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6Dominica

"Right now I'd say the Caribbean island of Dominica. It still feels largely undiscovered, the people are kind, and every scene is Instagram-worthy." —Kristen Kellogg, founder of online travel magazine and creative agency Border Free Travels

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7Patagonia

"We recently visited the Patagonia region of South America. A remote destination, Patagonia is uncrowded, stunningly beautiful, and a great place to explore nature. If you like hiking or glaciers, you will not be disappointed." —Elizabeth Rudd, co-founder of Compass & Fork

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8India

"I just got back from India and I am already planning to return. The country is filled with so much beauty, the culture is unique and interesting, and the exchange rate is great for budget travelers. I only had the chance to tour the golden triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur), which is barely just scratching the surface, but I'm already looking into visiting south India." —Tessa Torrente, blogger behind Travel Where to Next

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9Cappadocia

"So far, it's Cappadocia, Turkey. We travel to explore the unfamiliar and we haven't been to many places as otherworldly as Cappadocia. It's a magical, alien-like place." —JB Macatulad, co-founder of Will Fly for Food

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10London

"I've been to far more exotic destinations than the UK, but no city makes me feel more like myself than this one–which says a lot coming from a born and bred New Yorker. Brexit aside, London's diverse cultures, on the rise culinary scene, hard to beat shops (Harrod's, Brown's, Harvey Nichols, the list goes on...) and endless things to do and see rival that of New York–but they're capped off with pristine gardens and breathtaking architecture. Get to all the sites while enjoying insight and conversation from the world's friendliest cabbies; and if you tire of the city, the Cotswolds is London's version of the Hamptons–and I'll take a curated cottage or a spa day at Soho Farmhouse any day." – Carrie Goldberg, BAZAAR.com Travel & Weddings Editor

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11Myanmar

"Personally, my favorite place in the world is Myanmar. It's a country full of smiles, age-old traditions, fragrant foods, and a wealth of cultural sites and temples. Whether you like hiking, exploring ruins, wandering through markets, or simply relaxing on white-sand beaches, Myanmar has it all." —Daisy Cropper of Insight Guides

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12Lipari

"The Aeolian Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily. The largest island is Lipari (the islands are sometimes referred to as the Lipari Islands or Lipari group), but the other islands include Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea, and Basiluzzo. I loved being there because it's a place where time seems to have stopped. You have all the colorful and fragrant vegetation, the crystal sea, the amazing food of Sicily, but you feel more free and wild." —Elena Bisio, co-founder of Foody

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